Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-22

i found the little family Of the d,
ceased mate poor and in distress. TIL
earnings of poor Wayland had 70
years gone to satisfy the creditors Z
other days; they were in arrears 70
rent, and were threatened with expu
sion from the old house. In fit {
anger at the landlord purchased tn
place outright, giving for it twice q
much as it was worth. As delicatel
as / could / relieved the widow an
child. They were grateful, of course
the widow, consumptive for years, wa
sinking under the blow of her hus
bands death. The daughter was jus
half my age. became interested il
her, and before long persuaded mysel
that l wanted to marry her. A wee
before her mother died we were mad
man and wife. repaired the oil
house, and it has been our home since
though there are still many rooms in i
unfit to be occupied. When talket
with my wife about tho place she tol'
me that neither she nor her mother be
lieved in ghosts, but that they ha'
heard some very strange noises a
night in the other part of the house
and that her mother had more thai
once gone into Mysteries over them.
This, with what 1 had heard from
others, gave me my clew to my future
course.
In my brief stays in Provincetowr
between voyages have skillfully given
out hints that believed that the spirit
of the old pirate. Lobdell, roamed
through the house on stormy nights.
/ have really enjoyed seeing the shud-
behring's and pale faces that my stories
on this subject have caused. When
have been asked how could live in
such place. / have replied that l had
it ON my hands and nobody would buy
it This has satisfied people.
In such a community, made up
largely of sailors and their families,
there is of course much superstition.
These tales about the Lobdell place
were generally believed because people
were ready to believe them.
But why did wish to give my own
property so bad reputation @
Simply because l had made treas
ure-house of the cellar under the I'M
used part, and nothing was so well
calculated to protect it as these re-
ports, The place is Stunned. There
is not the least danger from robbers.
Down in the old damp cellar, where
/ suppose no foot but mine has passed
for fifty years, / found excavated a
great hole, and in it chest. Over tho
opening is n stone slab, so heavy that
it has tried my strength severely of
late years to raise and lower it. Over
the slab is piled lot of mildewed can
vas rotting planks, and worthless
cordage, stored here by Captain Lob
dell himself The great deep chest is
full of stout bags of gold, with few of
silver. Year by year have added to
the store, for twenty years-till it now
holds full fifty thousand dollars.
1t is rather strange. but perfectly
true, that l found this place of con-
cealment there, chest, slab, and all,
just as have used it. / suppose the
old buccaneer made much use of it in
his lifetime.
My visits to the old cellar have al
ways been made in the dead of night,
or at times when my wife and daughter
were away. There is not anything
certain in this world; but among the
few things that are certain. l believe
you may put down the fact that the
hiding-place of my treasure is not sus-
pected.
l return to my wife and daughter.
Nellie is my only child. / have told
you that have them both. She Is all |
that fond father could wish; and her
bless her!-she has
shown me how noble and good a
woman can be. It's little time / have
spent with them ashore for the last
twenty years; but l think both would
say that have been kind husband |
and father; that have looked well |
after their comfort, and always pro-
yided them with money.
Sometimes Helen has visited her
mothers relatives in Boston, where,
as / understand you, you met her
Tn talking to you, Mr.. Crawford as
though should be in another world
hours hence. You'll
marry Nellie. want you to trust her,
as / have never trusted her and her
mother.
There have been times when my
dear wife has sat upon my knee, and
rather timidly said: "Tell me some
hing of your affairs. Aaron. You
give us money enough; but if you
'hould>be drowned at sea, pray what
should we know about your property"
And | have always put her Off with
some joke about my not being drowned
On this voyage, or her ability to get an
other husband. have said things that
panied her; but Ihave never limited at
he truth.
WhyP
She has ever been worthy of all con-
idence; Nellie has been worthy of it.
1 Gun only say that my heart was
oured by my losses, and by the cruel
reachery had met with. When the
stunning blow of my first wife's be-